Aryna Sabalenka recently took the world number one ranking from Iga Swiatek after winning her second Grand Slam of the year.
It has been an enticing season on the WTA Tour, with Sabalenka and Swiatek battling it out at the top of the women’s game.
Sabalenka won the US Open in September after winning the Australian Open earlier this year, taking her tally to three Grand Slam titles.
On the other side, Iga Swiatek won the French Open, taking her Roland Garros total to four, but fell short at the other three Grand Slam events.
Sabalenka currently holds the number one ranking by just 41 points, with the year-end top spot up for grabs at the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
An event that one former WTA star believes Sabalenka will enter with a new challenge facing her.
CoCo Vandeweghe says Aryna Sabalenka has a ‘big target on her back’
2018 US Open doubles champion, CoCo Vandeweghe spoke on the Inside In podcast about the pressure Sabalenka is now under.
“Aryna [Sabalenka] is the hunted,” she said.
“What is she going to do with that big target on her back?
“For so long it’s been Iga [Swiatek] who has had the big target on her back, everyone chasing Iga to take that number one ranking, to beat her on the biggest stages.
“Now Sabalenka is going to have that mantle and what is she able to do with it, can she hold on to that, can she step up to that occasion.”
Vandeweghe went on to explain that several WTA stars are looking to take back momentum heading into 2025.
“People are trying to get some momentum back, I’m going to drop Iga in that list, I’m going to drop Jessica Pegula in that list,” she said.
“They have a sour taste in their mouth, of a loss that they think that maybe they shouldn’t have had.”
Is Aryna Sabalenka the favorite for the WTA Finals?
Sabalenka will head to Saudi Arabia as world number one and as one of the strong favorites for the year-end finals.
Joining her in Riyadh is Swiatek, Pegula, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen and Barbora Krejcikova.
Swiatek enters the event as the defending champion, having beaten Sabalenka and Pegula en route to the title in 2023.
The field is strong in 2024, with all players having performed well at the biggest events of the year.
| Name | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open |
| Aryna Sabalenka | Winner | Lost in QF | – | Winner |
| Iga Swiatek | Lost in 3R | Winner | Lost in 3R | Lost in QF |
| Coco Gauff | Lost in SF | Lost in SF | Lost in 4R | Lost in 4R |
| Jessica Pegula | Lost in 2R | – | Lost in 2R | Runner Up |
| Elena Rybakina | Lost in 2R | Lost in QF | Lost in SF | Lost in 2R |
| Jasmine Paolini | Lost in 4R | Runner Up | Runner Up | Lost in 4R |
| Zheng Qinwen | Runner Up | Lost in 3R | Lost in 1R | Lost in QF |
| Barbora Krejcikova | Lost in QF | Lost in 1R | Winner | Lost in 2R |
It remains to be seen who will take home the trophy but it would be tough to bet against Swiatek or Sabalenka after their performances in 2024 so far.
The WTA Finals begin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 2nd November.
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